Package for the preservation and display of game sets and the like



J. R. GIBSON Feb. 20, 1934.

PACKAGE FOR THE, PRESERVATION AND DISPLAY OF GAME SETS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 12, 1932 I N VENTOR Jaw: f W x .4 TTOR NE Y5 n HoNoRS Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James R. Gibson, Cincinnati, Ohio Application August 12, 1932.

4 Claims.

An object of my invention is the provision of an assembly of different articles in a package such that the articles retain an efiective disposition for display purposes, but are, at the same time preserved from spoilage by handling and examination. I shall describe my invention in connection with the preservation and display of printed game devices, such as so-called bridge sets, comprising usually a pad upon which the scores may be kept, and a plurality of tallies for the individual players. Heretofore such articles have usually been placed in boxes containing a considerable number, from which the articles are sold as desired. It has also been proposed to place sets of the articles in individual packages or boxes. In either event, however, the articles actually for sale would be damaged by handling and inspection, and it is usual to provide sample articles for display purposes. Individual packages obviously should not be opened for inspection, and the sale of articles of this character has frequently suffered from a lack of effective presentation to the buyer.

It is an object of my invention to combine the advantages of easy inspection with adequate protection to the articles, and the advantages of effective display arrangement with the individual package idea. It is likewise my object to provide the appeal which a sealed packet has by reason of the obvious freshness and cleanliness of its contents.

In general it is my object to provide in a packet at least one larger and a plurality of smaller articles which are normally liable to become disarranged, said smaller articles arranged in effective display position upon said larger article as a background, and a transparent covering over the assembly, the packet being so constructed as to provide against a loss of the predetermined relationship of the articles.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall describe a preferred embodiment. Reference is now made to the drawing which forms a part thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my bridge set packet, as it appears to the buyer, and containing the score card and the tallies.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the score sheet contained in the packet.

Figure 3 is a perspective of one of the tallies in a closed position.

Serial No. 628,563

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the tallies in open position.

Briefly in the practice of my invention, I provide a score sheet 1 made of one sheet of cardboard or any similar substance, which may be folded over in the form of a book on the score line 2. The inside 3 of this score sheet or book is printed with the usual columns, etc. for keeping the score in a game of bridge. The outside 4 of this book will preferably be decorated and colored in an attractive manner, and in my illustration I have shown an exemplary decoration consisting of a colored background with uniformly positioned dots 5 of a color contrasting with the background. On the upper edge 9 of the front cover 6, and substantially in the middle, I form an ear 7 by cuts 8, which extend down from the edge 9. It will be understod that the kind, decoration and configuration of the exemplary score sheet and tallies describedherein may be varied as desired, without departing from the spirit of my invention. I

The tallies 1 of which there are four; in the ordinary bridge set, may be of the usual form and are made of cardboard which is folded over 0 at the score line 10 in order to form a book with the hinge at the top. The tallies may also be single, or, if in book form, may have the fold at the side. On the inside of these tallies 11 is the usual set up 12 for keeping the individual scores of the players. The tallies are, of course. smaller than the score sheet 1 heretofore described. The outside cover 13 of the tallies in my illustrated embodiment contains a figure 17 in color which contrasts with the color of the base or background of the tally covers. Small tassels 14, with relatively long strings 15 are fastened to the back cover of my tallies by inserting the string 15 through a small hole 16, positioned on the edge of the back cover and near the top, 9.5 or score line, or otherwise attached. These tassels may be colored in order to give the combination an attractive appearance.

In my preferred embodiment I make my score sheet 1, folded or not, as desired, in the form of a square or oblong; and my folded tallies 11 in the form of a rectangle with its longest side shorter than a side of the score card. I form my packet by placing the four tallies 11 in a fanlike position on the front cover of my folded score 11 sheet. The corners carrying the tassels are substantially registered together and form the nub 18 of the fan, while the bottom edges of my tallies form the flare of the fan. This fan, composed of the four tallies, is placed on the cover of the folded score sheet so that the nub 18 of the fan will be positioned over or at the edge of my ear '7 formed in the score sheet. The four sets of strings 15 carrying the tassels 14, are slipped around and under the ear 7 so that the tassels themselves will project from the opposite side of the ear '7 and may be attractively positioned over the fan of tallies. The strings 15 positioned behind the ear '7 hold the fan in position on the cover of the foldedscore sheet. Other display positions, may, of course, be employed. After the score sheet and the tallies have been positioned as above described, the whole packet is wrapped in an envelope of Cellophane 19 or some analogous transparent sheet material. This envelope is only slightly larger than the score sheet, and therefore its face is held taut over the arrangement of tallies by the tensioning action of the relatively stiif cardboard from which the score sheet is made. In this arrangement my packet gives a very pleasing appearance with the colored cover of the score sheet for a background, and the display positioned. tallies, with their figures to the foreground. This packet may be roughly handled and the tallies will still keep their position on the score sheet due to the tautness of the covering envelope encasing them. When. the set is to be used, the transparent wrapper is broken and the contained tallies and score sheet will be found to be clean and neat in appearance. 7

It is to be understood that different forms of my preferred form may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A composite package comprising a scoring card in the form of a folder, a plurality of tallies of lesser size and arranged thereon, said tallies having cords attached thereto and means on said scoring card to engage and hold said cords, and a transparent wrapper enclosing said elements.

2. A composite package comprising a score card of sufficient size to form a background element, a plurality of tallies of lesser size and having cords arranged in display position on said score card, said score card having a slit, said cords engaging in said slit to assist in the maintenance of the position of said tallies, and a transparent wrapper encircling said elements.

3. A composite package comprising a score card of suificient size to form a background element, a plurality of tallies of lesser size and having cords arranged in display position on said score card, said score card having a slit, said cords engaging in said slit to assist in the maintenance of the position of said tallies, and a transparent wrapper encircling said elements, said score card serving to maintain said wrapper in distended position whereby said tallies are frictionally held against disarrangement.

4. A composite package comprising a score card of sufiicient size to form a background element, a plurality of tallies of lesser size and having cords arranged in display position on said score card, said score card having a slit, said cords engaging in said slit to assist in the maintenance of the position of said tallies, and a transparent wrapper encircling said elements, said score card serving to maintain said wrapper in distended position whereby said tallies are frictionally held against disarrangement, said tallies beng arranged fan-wise and overlapping whereby at JAMES R. GIBSON. 

